Joint structure for wire display racks



Sept 9, 1952 H. J. RUBENsTl-:IN

JOINT STRUCTURE FCR WIRE DISPLAY RACKS Filed Oct. 25, 1950 VEN TOR.#df/'y d ADa/bens??? Patented Sept. 9, 1,952

JOINT STRUCTURE FOR WIRE RACKS oFF-ICE.

DISPLAY Harry J. Rubenstein, Kansas City, Mo.- Y Application October 25,1950, Serial No. 192,043 A This invention relates to display racks forarticles ofmerchandise formed in its entirety from wire or rod stock andhaving a plurality of pockets formed to permit insertion and removal ofthe merchandise supported thereby without Vdamage to the articles andWithout undue diiculty particularly in the removing operation.

It is the most important object of the pres ent invention to provide awire display rack having a plurality of article supporting assembliesmounted on a common frame therefor in stepped arrangement and eachincluding a pair of Verticalrods that diverge as the lowermost endsthereof are approached, the rods having lateral extensions thereon forconnection with the support next adjacent thereto in such manner as tonot interfere with the removal of the articles.

Another object of the present invention is to provide article supportsof the aforementioned character each of which has a forwardly extendingleg on the lowermost end thereof and a laterally extending arm thatjoins with thevforward support at the back of the latter so as to notextend into the pocket of the adjacent support and thereby interferewith easy removal of the articles of merchandise and loading the pocketswhen such becomes necessary.

More minor objects will be made clear or become apparent as thefollowing specification progresses, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational View of a wire display rack made inaccordance with my pres- Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sideelevational view similar to Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on lineIV-IV of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, side elevational view, parts being broken awayfor clearness.

The supporting frame for the plurality of article supports shown in thedrawing includes a continuous, substantially U-shaped wire' lengthhaving a pair of spaced-apart substantially parallel frame members I0and l2 that are disposed at an angle in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2of the drawing. The lowermost ends of the frame members Il! and l2terminate in substantially vertical lengths I4 and I6 respectively andsubstantially horizontal portions I8 and 2U respectively.

A horizontal bight portion 22 underlying the 4 claims. (ol. 2li- 106) 2frame members I0 and l2zinterconnects portions I8 and 20. The framemembers I0 and l2 are interconnected by a plurality of spaced,horizontal cross-bars 24 and a pair of cross-bars 24' and 24". Eachcross-bar `4 has an article support broadly designated by the numeral 26rigidly secured thereto. Supports 26ers identical and are formed from asingle lengthrof wire-like material presenting a horizontal bight member28, a pair of depending spaced-apart vertical rods 3Q and a forwardlyextending horizontal leg 32 on the lowermost end of each rod 30respectively.

` Each leg 32 is in turn providedwith a laterally `extending arm-34. f

As most clearly illustrated in Fig; `1, of the drawing, the lowermostends ofthe rods 3U terminate in stretches 36 that converge slightly asthe legs 32 thereof are approached- Consequently, the distance betweenthelowermostends lof stretches 36 is less than the length of the bightmembers 23. The arms 34 on the outermost free ends of forwardlyextending `horizontal legs 32, extend outwardly from the legs 32 in`asubstantially horizontal plane and connect directly with thecorresponding rods 3U of the article support 25 next forwardly thereofand adjacent the line of bend between rods 3o and stretches 36.

It is noted that the vertical rods 30 of all of the article supports 26are disposed along the back of the corresponding cross-bars 24 and jointherewith intermediate the ends of rods 3D and above the correspondingconnection with arms 34. Because of the inclination of the frame mem.-bcrs l0 and I2, the article supports are therefore disposed in astep-like arrangement with the bight members 28 progressively higher as`the uppermost ends of frame members I0 and l2 are approached. Theuppermost bight member 28 conveniently serves as a means for hanging theentire display rack upon a wall 38 or the like through the medium ofsuitable hooks or other fastening elements 4D.

A plurality of pockets are accordingly presented between the rods 30 ofarticle supports 26 for receiving cards, pamphlets, books or the like42. Cross-bars 24 and 24" have parallel legs 58 of a U-shaped member 52secured thereto as shown in Fig. 5, member 52 being disposed forwardlyof the lowermost support 26, presenting a pocket therebehind, and havingthe proximal arms 34 secured thereto. `The lowerrnost edge of thearticles 42 rest directly upon the forwardly extending horizontal legs32. It is seen that by the disposition of arms 34 at the back ofthesupport 26 to whichthey are connected, there will be no interferencewith loading of the pockets with articles 42 and particularly arms 34will not interfere with removal of articles 42 or damage the same assuch removal takes place.

This novel arrangement improves substantially over the conventionaljoint structures wherein fastening ends such as at 34 extend into theproximal pocket and not only interfere with removal of the articles 42but oftentimes tear or scratch the same because of a sharp end that ispresented when the wire stock is cut for subsequent bending operations.

It is contemplated of course, that the cross- 4 extending toward thesupport next below, each leg having a laterally extending arm joinedwith the proximal rod of said support next below.

3. A display rack comprising a plurality of identical article supportseach including a horizontal member, a pair of spaced vertical rodsdepending from said member and having the lowermost ends thereof inconverging relationbars 24, 24 and 24" be spot-.welded directly tomembers 24 and with the article supports next A forwardly thereof byspot-welding.

It is also apparent that while only one series*` or row of articlesupports has been illustrated, a number of rows thereof might beprovided by extending the lengths of cross-bars 24 and'providing asuitable number of angularly disposed frame members such as at l0 and l2for further reinforcing the entire supporting frame structure.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A display rack comprising a spaced pair of angularly disposed framemembers; a plurality of horizontal cross-bars joining said framemembers; and an article support for each crossbar respectively, eachsupport including a spaced pair of vertical rods secured tocorresponding cross-bars and converging at the lowermostends thereof,each of said ends being provided with a laterally extending leg joinedwith the proximal rod of a support next adjacent thereto;

2` A display rack comprising a plurality of article supports; and means`for mounting said suports in terraced arrangement, each supportcomprising a pairof spaced, vertical rods having the lowermost endsthereof in converging relationship, eachrrod being provided with a legship, and a laterally extending leg on said end of each rod,respectively; and means for mounting said supports with the upper endsof the rods of each support parallel with the upper ends of the rods ofthe other supports and with said members in terraced arrangement, eachleg being joined with the proximal rod of the support next below.

4. A display rack comprising a plurality of identical article supportseach including a horizontal member, a pair of spaced vertical rodsdepending from said member and having the lowermost ends thereof inconverging relationship, a laterally extending leg on said end of eachrod, respectively, and an outwardly extending arm on each leg,respectively; and means for mounting said supports with the upper endsof the rods of each support parallel with the upper ends of the rods ofthe other supports and with said members in terraced arrangement, eacharm being joined with the proximal rod of the support next below.

HARRY J. RUBENSTEIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent: v

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 866,634 Dunlap Sept. 24, 1907955,589 Fassio Apr. 19, 1910 1,359,125 Stevens Nov. 16, 1920 1,715,078Whyte et al May 28, 1929 2,221,659 Wilkie Nov. l2, 1940 2,235,977 BitneyMar. 25, 1941

